Guernsey Press

UK plans to force tax firms to name clients

TAX firms could in future be forced to identify clients who use aggressive avoidance schemes, under plans unveiled by the UK government.

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TAX firms could in future be forced to identify clients who use aggressive avoidance schemes, under plans unveiled by the UK government.

The move comes in response to recent revelations that celebrities such as comedian Jimmy Carr had been using the K2 scheme, run through Jersey, to avoid paying as much tax in the UK.

David Gauke, Treasury minister in charge of tax, announced yesterday that new laws could be introduced to give Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs the power to force tax firms to provide details on who uses their services. HMRC currently relies on voluntary disclosure.

Deputy Treasury and Resources minister Jan Kuttelwascher (pictured), speaking personally instead of for the board, said he had no problem with the UK legislating to name and shame its own residents using aggressive tax avoidance schemes. But he cast doubt on any suggestion that such schemes were operated from or through Guernsey.

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